CM Devendra Fadnavis wants don back in state, but CBI may keep Mumbai cops waiting

NEW DELHI | MUMBAI: Mumbai police may have to wait for Chhota Rajan's custody after his deportation from Bali as the CBI, which investigated the 1993 serial blasts and secured convictions, may first question him as a "witness" in the case to prepare a completely new dossier on Dawood Ibrahim, said sources.

Chhota Rajan had fallen out with Dawood over the serial blasts to emerge as his bitter rival.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday the state government will request the authorities to hand over Chhota Rajan to Maharashtra as he had committed many crimes in the state.

"We will send all documents to the Central government and subsequently, we will ask for his custody. The red corner notice against Chhota Rajan was issued by Maharashtra and Mumbai police," Fadnavis told a news agency. "Chhota Rajan has committed many crimes in Maharashtra. We will provide evidence against him," said Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio.

Rajan will face trial in the state, where he is wanted in multiple criminal cases ranging from murder to extortion, the CM added.

Rajan remains an important catch for Mumbai police, which wants to interrogate him over a string of crimes, including gangland killings, over the past decade to get a clearer picture of the motives.

A recent example is the murder of journalist J Dey, after which Rajan gave out statements to TV channels that Dey was allegedly feeding information to his rival. The crime branch team has arrested around nine persons, including a woman journalist, but has failed to pinpoint the exact motive behind the murder.

Another case is the murder of cricket bookie Zahid Hassan alias Chhote Miyan in 2010. A businessman in the film industry had lost Rs 2 crore to Miyan, who was affiliated to Chhota Shakeel. Despite warnings, the businessman failed to pay up, prompting Miyan to tow away his Lexus car. Two months later, Miyan was gunned down inside his den. After the arrest of two shooters, Mohammed Ali Jaan and Pranya Rane, it came out that Miyan had incurred a loss of Rs 35 crore over IPL betting and was refusing to pay punters. Sleuths concluded punters may have given the supari to Rajan to kill Miyan, "but till today it remains a mystery who gave the supari to Rajan", said an officer.

Rajan also made an attempt on the life of Asif Dadhi, a Congress activist in February 2010. Dadhi had a narrow escape and those arrested in the Miyan killing admitted to have fired on Dadhi. But it is still not clear why Dadhi was targeted in the first place.